WILL SONERI MAKE IT 9 ON END?

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 1 (Supplement)

WILL SONERI MAKE IT 9 ON END?

TOUGH TEST IN CANTERBURY CUP PiCCOLQ-HORMUZ MEET IN FENDALTQN ' (Herald Special Service.) The Canterbury Jockey Chib concludes its New Zealand Cup on the Riccarton racecourse to-morrow, and again good quality fields look like contesting the seven events. The gallops this week reveals the Iraek to bo firm and fast and in every probability that is bow it will be Tor the final day’s racing.

The chief items of interest tomorrow arc the weight-for-age Canterbury Cup, the Fcndalton and the Members’ Handicaps while interest also will be centred in the Stonylnirst Handicap, a race that is confined to throe-year-olds and the acceptors include the runner-up in the Derby. Howe, who also has made a final payment in the weight-for-age mile and a-half event, the Canterbury Cup. The following is a brief survey of the fields:—

CANTERBURY CUP

Foxliavcn 9.4, will hardly be forward enough to be taken much notice of.

Golden Souvenir, 9.4, if the race is a true run race should prove the winner, despite the form of the others. Signal Officer, 9.4! is also in the Fcndalton Handicap with the steadier of 9.11. However, if he is started in this race he can hardly be preferred to Golden Souvenir at level weights. Soneri, 8.9, with eight wins in a row, is now to take on a distance that, in the writer’s mind, is a little beyond her staying ability. Howe, 7.12, on his Derby and Churchill Stakes form, cannot be recommended now.

Royal Tan, 7.12, if he is as good as many of the past Derby winners would be the logical favourite, but it is very doubtful if he can be classed with many of the good three-year-olds of the past.

FENDALTON HANDICAP

Signal Officer, 9.11, has his job ahead of him, but lie is a first-class handicap performer. However, he may not start.

Joygiver, 8.9, has raced well this season without winning a race and is not recommended with any confidence. Master Robin, 8.7, failed fast Saturday when confidently backed. He might do better on an easier - track, methinks.

Bridge Acre, 8.5, disappointed in the Metropolitan. However, she is the type that might win this 10-furlong event.

Hormuz, 8.2, third in the Metropolitan, looks.like one to include in a final summing up.

Lord Elgin, 7.12, is not recommended on recent form.

Piccolo, 7.12. ran a good fourth in the Metropolitan after being in front turning for home: should run a merry 10 furlongs this time. Double Cross, 7.12, was a winner the first day and ran well enough last week-end to suggest him being one of the tough ones again. Tremello, 7.9. a fresh horse at the meeting, won well enough when making the open grade successfully recently to say that he has a show. Lowry Bay. 7.7. over this course is not to be taken a risk with, but he may be feeling the effects of the hard races he had in the New Zealand Cup and the Metropolitan last week. Lord Darnley, 7.4, ran a fair race in the New Zealand Cup. He prefers the sting out of the going. Of the lightweights. Big Money. 7.0, and Eriskay, 7.0. who are ’laving their first races at the meeting, read the best and either might surprise.

MEMBERS' HANDICAP

Master Dash. 10.1, ran such a splendid race last week over eight furlongs that he must command respect now. Tuis, 8.10, on her day, can “leg it.” Her form is not consistent, but on her second 12 months ago to Irish Note in the Stewards’ and her first in ‘he A.R.C. Railway she would be dangerous. Lexia, 8.5. won the Jockey Club and also ran a good race until the last but one of the nine-furlong Riccarton Handicao on the opening day. Dymondy, 8.3. on his Stewards’ form, must be one of the favourite division.

Bcnbecula, 7.12. might -win. but in the writer’s mind, is hardly class enough for the present opposition. Derenc, 7.12, ran poorly the second day and might be feeling the effects of her first day’s spill. Atreus, 7.8. is not liked at all.

Privilege, 7.8. is going to be one of the most dangerous: she night actually start favourite.

Lady Chips, 7.7, is useful, especially on an easv track. Red Pickle, 7.7, sixth in the Stewards’ and third in the mile Jockey Gl"h should now go a sound seven furlongs.

Julius Caesar, 7.3. has been running fair races on thus trio and is the most dangerous of the light-weights.

PORT COOPER HURDLES

Abdicate was third on the opening day and possibly may do better this time, although he prefers the going without sting. Battle Chief has recent placings to his credit and /should give the best here a good run for their money.

Robert, the ex-llastings gelding, has a win to his credit over the battens this season, so is a consideration. Ruling Moments was second on the opening day to Lost Art and is well, commented upon; he looks the logical favourite. Pendanie has no hurdle form.

Tamerlane ran Relieve to a head iu a minor hurdle race at the last National meeting, hut in the interim his form has been a little disappointing.

IRWELL HANDICAP

Garry, second to the unbeaten Excellency the second day, looks to he the one to he very hard to keep major honours from this

Zorro won at the Wellington spring meeting on soft going, and has a little form to say he has a show.

Sea Flower won well the first day, hut was not produced a week ago. .She and Garry look like staging a spirited contest, both on the track and on the totalisator.

Velveline won well at Dunedin, hut was not in the call last Saturday after a poor jumpout.

Carry On has a minor placing to her credit and also sprinted well during the week.

Erinmore, the Hastings-trained and owned youngster, has been unplaced so far on his southern trip, hut ou Tuesday morning galloped well enough to please his supporters. Renowned, the daughter of Cuddle, was fourth in the Welcome Stakes and was not produced last week; she would only need to improve a little to he in the argument tomorrow.

Of the others, little form is offering, with private reports favouring Battle Abbey and Kartikeya.

STONYHURST HOP

Howe heads the list with 0.7 and if started will he the favourite over this course, which is three furlongs shorter than the Dei by distance, which he failed to run out.

Opulent so far on 'this trip has not been prominent in either of liis starts. However, back to his old age class, he may do better on this occasion.

Rosswood has been third in both his Riccarton starts, which gives him a place chance again.

Keening struggled on for fourth in the Derby ; a rough chance only is givci\, him now as over nine furlongs the first day ho was simply not in it.

Lovemorn on her first two days’ form is difficult to recommend.

Rnhine is racing without any luck. If she has not sulTcrcd any ill effects from her Oaks fall she should he in the money this time.

Sea Fury goes fast, but methinks this distance on this big roomy track will see her failing to see the nine furlongs out. Palm Bearer, on form, is not fancied. Antibes won solidly if narrowly the other day at Riccarton and on that form she must he tough again. Graeme is not recommended, the same being apnlicable to Hart Royal.

Indian Dawn was nowhere on the middle dav. but is not without a lightweight’s chance* Mr. Pym has been racing very unluckily this last month as on the middle day at Riccarton and his previous start he was very unfortunate in the running. The winner may come from those not mentioned. hut, if so, it will be a surprise.

HAGLEY HACK

Lincoln Fair tasted her first defeat last Saturday over a mile when she showed speed fo * about six furlongs and then cried enough ; maybe she will manage seven furlongs this time.

Autoshine pops up now and then, hut is not consistent.

Desert Girl has been racing very consistently and has won in her last two starts. It looks as if this Southlander will he the favourite. Peculate was in the money the other day so has place form to recommend his chances on.

Lecston was a winner at the North Canterbury meeting. Tomahawk on his second day’s running is not fancied, even for a place. Palomino was a winner on the opening day, but failed to weigh-in last week. Grand Melee is a place consideration only. Queen’s General has not run a bad race this season ; might surprise. Indian Dawn is engaged earlier in the day, while according to report Ivirkella is contesting the mile and a quarter hack. Scotch Tweed is fancied perhaps a little better than any of the others.

ASHLEY HACK

Falconbridge with a third and a second respectively over the first two days must be one of the hard ones again.

Wane was the winner last Saturday, but in poor company. However, he could do no more than win. Iron Duke ran well enough at Feilding to say that le is not without a fair show now. Great Chum is a place consideration. Nightchild won the Otaio 12-furlong event last Saturday; he has winning form.

Kite High was a winner at his last race but so far has not started at the Cup meeting.

Lady Welbeck is fair at best. Detain has been five times out of the money this season out of as many starts.

Clyde Bridge was a little unlucky last Saturday when the bit ran through his mouth and he could not be controlled. ICirkella, according to report, is going to be very hard to heat. The balance are not recommended, having no forrn, , •*

C.J.C. CARD

SEVERAL FRESH HORSES TRACK WILL BE HARD (Herald Special Service.) The Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Clip meetings will be concluded at Riccarton to-morrow. Large fields will parade in most of the events and with several fresh horses engaged the racing should again be closely contested. Although six are carded for the Canterbury Cup, Signal Officer and Howe are unlikely starters. Soneri is certain to he a good favourite, hut Golden Souvenir can be expected to fully test her over a mile and a half journey. There is every indication of the present spell of fine weather continuing, and the track will he hard. The betting will he under the win-and-placo system. The following horses should race prominently:— Port Cooper Hurdles.—Abdicate. Battle Chief. Ruling Moment. Canterbury Cup.—Golden Souvenir, Soneri. Irwell Handicap.—Garry. Velveline, Seafiower. Stony hurst Handicap. Rnhine, Lovemorn. Opulent. Hagley Hark Handicap.- Desert Girl, Peculate, Queen's General. Fcndalton Handicap.—Hormuz, Joygiver, Piccolo. Ashley Hack Handicap. Kirkella, Falconbridge. Lady Welbeck. Members’ Handicap.—Red Pickle, Privilege. Master Dash. The acceptors: 10.17 —Port Cooper Hurdle Handicap, of £6OO : 2 miles. Abdicate 11 2 Ruling Moment 0 4 Robert 0 0 Pendant ic 0 2 Baltic Chief 9 9 Tamerlane 9 0 11.27—Canterbury Cup, of £1500; weight-for-age; li miles. Fox ha ven 9 4 Soneri 2 9 Golden Souvenir 9 4 Howe 7 12 Signal Officer 9 4 Royal Tan 7 12 12.12—Irwell Handicap, of £600; 2-year-olds; 6 furlongs.

Carry 9 1 Dario 7 8 Zorro 8 8 Kartikeya 7 8 Sea Flower 8 3 Golden Hope 7 0 Velveline 8 3 Blithe Spirit 7 6 Carry Oil 7 13 Ohnpi 7 r» Erin more 7 1 1 Faultrosa 7 r» Oronoko 7 10 Omorous 7 ft Hay Fort 7 10 Lament 7 3 General Argosy 7 10 Pestee 7 3 Cay Fellow 7 10 Morning Watch 7 3 Renowned 7 10 Maka Maka 7 3 Battle Abbey 7 8